By the end of the meeting, Aurora was bone-deep tired. After Ferihn finished explaining the entire thing, everyone immediately started discussing plans of finding Casimir, defending the Kingdom and the castle, guarding the library, doing a search for him and anyone who was related to him in any way, yada yada.

After a few hours of it, Aurora’s vision had gone hazy and she’d almost fell out of her chair but her father had kept her upright and gave her some coffee to last the meeting, with extra sugar just the way she liked it.

Finally, she was stumbling into her chambers. That was intense. The forest, the rune magic, the meeting, Ferihn having a twin brother. Gods above, she needed a break. But she couldn’t, there was no time. So much to do, too little time. Story of my life, isn’t it?

The first thing she heard was shrieking and laughing in the kitchen. She smiled despite her exhaustion and walked to it, peeking inside. Soren and Lyria were having a water fight and he was tickling her mercilessly.

“No, stop, stop!” Lyria giggled.

“You asked for it when you hit me with that huge glob of water!” Soren said, holding a hand up to his chest in exaggerated indignation.

Aurora grinned to herself. No one had noticed her yet. She quietly snuck up behind Soren’s back, making sure Lyria, as short as she was, didn’t see her either. Then she rose on her tiptoes, held out her hands, and-

“Oh, shi-”

Soren spun around just in time to see Aurora slip on the wet floor. Bubbles spilled out of her way as she tried to balance herself, but it was futile.

She would’ve fallen had Soren not had his lightning fast reflexes. Sharp and quick-witted as a blade, he immediately set Lyria on the counter and caught Aurora in his arms. She stared up at his concerned gray pools and it looked like he was about to say something… But then Soren laughed. “Rose! Still got two left feet, I see. What were you even trying to do? And what were you about to say?” He raised an eyebrow. Lyria’s squealing stopped, though the giggles didn’t.

Aurora grumbled. “Shut up. I was trying to give you a scare. And I was gonna say shi…var. Shivar.”

An incredulous laugh escaped Soren. “Shivar. Shivar, as in, the God? Have you been doing rituals for Shivar lately, then? I think I have a better idea of what kind of language you were about to use, and it wasn’t a prayer to a God, Rory.”

She scoffed, trying to cover up. “Well- it- I- it just-” Soren grinned and waltzed her around, dipping her so close to the floor. She couldn’t help but laugh. “If you drop me, I swear…”

“I wouldn’t dare,” he whispered, his breath on her ear.

Her breath caught and her grip on his shoulders tightened. The warmth that bloomed inside her… had little to do with the heating unit. He tugged her back upright and they danced around Aurora’s chambers. “Have you been practicing your waltz recently?”

“Are you complimenting me?”

“Don’t flatter yourself. But you’re not missing a step like before. It was usually the fifteenth, right around the turn.”

“Nice to know you pay attention. But no, I haven’t. You’re the only dance partner I’ve got.”

“Oh, wow, the green monster inside me is so eased. Well, at least you’re getting some practice in. Iline knows you’d skip it every day just to go to fencing.”

“Hey, you’re one to talk! You’re never away from that arena.”

“Eh, can’t argue. Did you skip both today?”

“No, I practiced fencing with Lyria.”

“What?”

“Not like that, Rory. Origami swords. I even blunted the tips of the paper. I’ve known Lyria for just as long as you, you think I wouldn’t take all the measures to protect her?”

“No, you would. I know. Just cautious.”

“Have trust! Have you no faith in your best friend?”

“Oh, quit yapping. Honestly, such a drama king.”

“Drama, yes. King, no. You’re the future queen here.”

“Trust me, I know. So many works to do tonight.”

Lyria hopped off the counter and ran to where the two best friends were still twirling. “Aur Aur, you’re early!” she cried, tugging at Aurora’s leg. Soren was right in the middle of dipping her, so she skidded a bit backwards and her heel tripped on the edge of the couch.

“Ow!” Aurora’s head almost slammed against the wooden headboard but Soren, cursing, shot his hand out behind her head so it took the most of the impact. Aurora immediately stood up and took his arm, and Soren flinched in pain. “Are you okay? No, of course not, where does it hurt?”

“I should be asking you that,” he sighed. “It’s fine, it doesn’t hurt.”

“BS.” Aurora gave him a look and then picked Lyria up, putting her on the couch. “I canceled some meetings, sugar. Can’t go breaking promises now, can I?”

“Thanks, sissy.”

Aurora smiled at her and then went to the kitchen, opening the medical cabinet. “Routine, routine, routine…”

“Hey, it’s not like I save you from a concussion every day!”

She rolled her eyes. “Yeah, but you injure your arm in fencing daily. Then when I get back, I heal it.”

“My cooking makes up for it.”

Aurora sniffed the air and sure enough, there was a delicious aroma coming from the stove. “Mm… fine.” Soren grinned and went into the kitchen, clearly intending to set the table. But Aurora shoved him back. “No way. You’re just gonna hurt your arm more.”

“No, I won’t, I’m careful-” Soren tried to argue but the stern look she levelled him shut him up. She got her supplies and pushed him on the couch.

When she took his arm gently, she felt the shiver in him that followed and she frowned. “Are you cold?”

He ducked his head. “No, I’m not.”

Aurora pursed her lips and finished wrapping the gauze around his arm. “You burnt yourself, really, Soren?”

He pouted. “Not my fault the timer’s faulty.”

“We both know my kitchen’s up to perfection.” But her voice was softer.

Lyria’s stomach rumbled and Soren laughed. “Now can we eat?”

Aurora grinned. “Yep. I’ll set the table-”

“-and I’ll serve,” Soren finished. “Just like always, Rose.”

She smiled and although Soren stood, she only let go of his arm after a few seconds. Soren lingered in that spot, looking down at his arm with the slightest dopey smile while Aurora put Lyria in her small seat and put the utensils down. “Don’t forget the gloves when you transport the food, Soren.”

“I’m not that pathetic,” he protested. Aurora just laughed and Soren hid a pleased grin, turning to the stove to get the food. Although he did make sure to use the gloves.

When everything was set and served, Aurora brought the spoon tentatively to her mouth. As soon as the flavors hit her tongue, she melted. “Aaahhhh,” she moaned, “Cnt vin. Sho guuud.”

“I take it the food’s good?”

“Mm.” Aurora swallowed the hot gooeyness down and sighed. “I swear you’re going to be my personal chef for my entire life. I’ll pay you all the talons I have if you accept the position.”

Soren laughed. “I already am. Free of charge. Am I not delightfully generous?”

But both Aurora and Lyria were too busy gobbling down the food to even acknowledge Soren anymore.

When dinner was finished, they all went to the carpet. Aurora explained what happened at the meeting and Lyria had wide eyes on Soren’s lap. “Whoaaaaaaa,” she breathed.

“Same here,” Soren added. “That’s a lot. Casimir is Ferihn’s twin brother? And… the color explosion? Do you think he manipulated magic on you or something? Because that… that’s definitely magic.”

Aurora shook her head. “No. It was something else, but I don’t know what. I mean - it was magic, that’s clear, but Ferihn didn’t impose it on me.” She started to rise. “Well, I have work. I have to go, see you both later.”

But Soren caught her wrist and tugged her back. “Hey, wait.”

Lyria pouted. “Aurora! You canceled your meetings to spend time with me. Not spend time with your new best friend Work.”

“But-”

“No buts,” Soren cut her off. “Lyria’s right. You need to rest, you’ve had a long day. Take a break.”

“But there’s no time for a break, Soren, especially with all these new developments-”

“Aurora.”

She stopped. Soren knew she’d never argue with him when he used her full name, which was barely ever.

“Please, Rose. You’re gonna burn yourself out at this rate, and then all Lyria will have to play with is ashes. And I can’t very well dance or fence or train with a huge mound of dust, can I? It would clog up my nose and then I would sneeze all day long and the guards of the palace would arrest me for inhaling the ashes of their princess and no one wants all that drama to happen.”

Aurora gave a huff of laughter. “No, I suppose not.”

Soren grinned. “Exactly, thank you.” She hated how easily he made her laugh, how her worries vanished with the sound of his voice. “Let’s have some fun, then?”

“Oooohhhhhh. Idea!” Lyria shouted. The best friends paused their bantering to look over at the adorable beam of light. “What about the sepitaring?”

Soren smiled a little. “Do you mean the scepter, sugar?”

Lyria nodded enthusiastically. “Yeah! The… scepter,” she said carefully.

Aurora suddenly felt an overwhelming surge of affection for her little sister. Grinning, she picked Lyria up and spun her around the room. “Wanna use the scepter, Lyria?”

Lyria squealed. “Eee! Yeah!”

Soren laughed. “Hey, don’t leave me out!” He went over and tickled Lyria. “I’ll take her while you get the scepter.”

Aurora nodded and gave Lyria to him. Then she went to her private drawer.

Get it over with. No need to linger on the past.

She stepped in front of it, and inhaled. “Renali,” she whispered. Her mother’s name. The lock turned and undid itself with a quick swish, placing itself on the counter above the cabinet. The drawer opened with a tap from Aurora on the wood. Peering inside, she took her mother’s scepter, now hers, carefully out the drawer and then closed it. With another tap on it, the drawer’s lock zoomed back onto the knob and clicked, before the box slammed back into place.

Aurora looked at the scepter for a moment. The base was untainted, pure white, laced with gray magical designs that shimmered however it wanted. Her gaze traveled up to the blue diamond attached at the top by an intricate latch with 4 locks firmly secured to each side of the glittering gem. And the gold crown at the top, the small but perfectly sized, perfectly chosen adornment for the magic caster.

She stared. Not for the first time. The only thing she had apart from her mother, other than Lyria. She might have gowns and jewelry and royal possessions anyone would consider themselves lucky to even look at… but none of that meant anything to Aurora. This scepter cast magic that her father hated seeing her use, which was why she always did it in private. He had always thought magic was what… was what caused Mother…

Aurora didn’t feel the sting of her tears until Soren was wiping them away, holding her tightly to him. “Rose, Rose, Rose,” he whispered her name over and over. The scepter lifted out of Aurora’s hand and put itself on the counter, sensing the emotional distress that was radiating in the room.

Lyria was standing on the floor, hugging her sister’s leg. “Aur Aur?” She said, small and worried.

“I’m sorry, I- I just-” Aurora tried to speak, but her throat closed up. She hated this. Hated that Soren had to come comfort her every time she thought about her mom, every time she was a burden on him, was weak because she wasn’t strong enough. Why can’t I be strong enough? Is there something wrong with me?

Soren tightened his arms around her, running a hand through her hair. “Don’t apologize, sweet. You did nothing wrong. You’re not weak, you’re not useless, okay? If you didn’t cry, I would think you had no soul. And I’m pretty sure my best friend has a soul, otherwise I’d know.”

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She knew he was trying to make her smile, so she tried. But it was so wobbly it dropped the second after. Soren tucked her head under his chin and kissed the top of her head. “It’s okay, sweet. I miss your mom too.”

“Mommy?” Lyria questioned. Aurora looked down at her sister. Lyria hadn’t been close with their mother because she hadn’t been old enough to know her. Aurora was the one who was haunted by memories of their time together, laughing and playing and having the love only a mother and a daughter could have. Aurora would never wish the horror of losing that upon Lyria.

“Yes, your Mommy.” Soren said gently to Lyria before tilting Aurora’s chin up and wiping her cheeks again. “Are you okay, Rose?” Aurora took a deep breath and nodded through her tear-filled vision which was slowly starting to clear under the comfort of Soren. What would I do without this wonderful boy?

“Yeah,” she said, clearing her throat. “Thanks, Ren.”

He smiled at her. “No problem. It’s what I’m here for.” Aurora probably imagined it, but she could’ve sworn that his hands lingered on her waist. But then he let go of her and ruffled her hair, and Aurora decided she was probably going mental.

They went back to the living chambers and Soren got some snacks which Lyria eagerly munched on. Aurora grabbed the scepter and followed them. She grinned at Lyria, brandishing the scepter where the little girl could see. Aurora muffled a curse that she should not have said in front of the little girl when the scepter sent a spark up at the chandelier and unhinged it from the ceiling. “Cobwebs!” The words escaped Aurora’s mouth.

It was right above her too, and Soren’s eyes widened in alarm. “Aurora!” He was already pulling her out of the chandelier’s path. But Aurora managed to quickly shoot a ray at it that suspended it and placed it back on its hook, twisting a lock for good measure.

“Careful!” Lyria chimed before Soren could.

Soren turned Aurora around. “Agreed. Completely agreed. Are you okay? How many times will you be in danger in your own chambers in one evening?”

“Yes and I have no idea, respectively.”

Soren sighed and went to the carpet, shaking his head.

She drew a puddle of stars on the carpet and everyone sat with crossed legs around it. She ran through the list of snotty, snobby nobles she knew in her mind and then caught on one.

“Garnoy.”

Aurora flicked the scepter at the puddle, and replaced it with a purple portal with a silver railing around it. Then the portal dissolved into the third person view of the kitchen.

A servant was scribbling something in a book, and he just so happened to be in the shadows. “Oh no,” Aurora whispered, having a dreadful idea of what was about to happen. She wished, not for the first time, that Garnoy wasn’t so suspicious of everything.

Then the chubby old man stepped into the kitchen, wearing his signature blue suit and tie, which was just a bit too tight for the shape of his body. Garnoy wasn’t exactly on the skinny side. He looked the same from the Circle Meeting earlier.

His eyes immediately snapped to the servant and he gasped in outrage. Garnoy yanked the servant by his collar into the kitchen where everyone could see, including chefs and servers.

“What is this? What are you doing?” Garnoy snapped.

“Sir- I- I-” The servant squeaked. His nametag glinted in the sudden light, and Jenkins could be clearly seen from where Aurora and Soren were eavesdropping.

“Speak up!” Garnoy demanded.

“I- uh- it- uh, it’s my, uh, d-diary, uh, s-sir-”

”Diarrhea?” Garnoy bellowed, immediately dropping the diary in question. “Diarrhea?!”

Aurora and Soren were rolling on the floor, clutching their sides with laughter. “His old ears can’t hear,” Soren gasped out. Lyria was jumping up and down in excitement, her giggles vibrating her body.

Garnoy picked up the diary, scanning the pages. “Now we’ll see what you’re hiding.

“Day 78. I tripped over my own feet in the dining hall. Again. This time, I landed in Lady Margaret’s lap. She screamed. I screamed. The turkey screamed. Utter chaos. What, are you plotting to steal her riches and she’ll be such a disgrace that no one will care?” Garnoy scoffed.

“Day 92. Tried to catch a fly buzzing near the Queen’s pudding. Slapped it so hard the pudding flew onto Official Garnoy’s wig. Thought I’d be executed on the spot. Oh, you should’ve been, I remember that.

“Day 128. Accidentally bowed to the stable boy instead of Lord Brewnor. Stable boy winked. I think he’s telling everyone I fancy him now.

“Day 173. During a rainstorm, slipped while carrying laundry. Ended up with all of Lord Finn’s undergarments stuck to my face. He laughed. I cried.”

Garnoy had the most comically baffled expression of anyone Aurora had seen in her life. It was a good thing he stopped reading because he wouldn’t have been able to be heard over the kitchen staffs’ roaring laughter. Jenkins was bright red as a tomato all over and he looked like he wanted to crawl into a hole and never come out again and die of embarressment. It was a valid possibility at this point.

Garnoy dropped the diary. “What is the meaning of this? Why are you carrying around diarrhea concealed in a diary? Are these- spy confidentials that are hidden in the writing?” Garnoy barked. “This is not what a proper spy does, can you not even do this right?”

“No, no- sir-” Jenkins stammered.

Garnoy released Jenkins in disgust. “Get out of my sight, Jenkins,” he spit out, making his name sound like an insult. Jenkin scurried out of the room quickly, not even giving a glance to his diary.

Aurora was holding onto Soren for dear life as they were both in tears, the room silent except for Lyria’s signature squeaks when she was too excited or nervous for words. They’d laughed so much they couldn’t even make any more noise, and they were just choking helplessly.

The puddle cleared out until it was only the carpet, not a speck of water on it. Eventually, the three got ahold of themselves and wiped their tears away. “What was that?” Soren said, his voice hoarse from laughing.

“I don’t know, but I feel sorry for poor Jenkins,” Aurora choked out, bursting into another fit of laughter.

“Is he in love with Lady Margaret or the stable boy? Dramaaa,” Lyria mused innocently, quietly. Soren and Aurora just cackled in response.

*•*•*•*•*•*•*•*•*•*•*•*

Soren collapsed. “No more. No more,” he pleaded, breathless.

Lyria scowled and pouted at the same time. “More! More!”

Rory smiled. “Lyria, he’s exhausted. We can play The Scalding Stream later.” Everyone had changed into their pajamas hours before and were currently in the middle of Lyria’s favorite game. Soren did not want to jump around on the couches and carpet and chairs anymore to avoid the floor. His legs were burning more than they did in training.

“Listen to your sister,” he moaned. “Your sweet, perfect sister who’s always right and definitely right that we should take a break.”

“Aw, what a compliment! Are you finally admitting that I’m always right?”

Soren bolted upright. “Wait! No, I didn’t- I didn’t mean to-” He groaned and cursed.

Rory grinned and waved the scepter. “Memory caught.” She cast it at the air and an image of Soren repeating those words looped over and over again. Your sweet, perfect sister…. always right… It was true, although Soren would never admit it.

Rory twirled around the image. “Always right,” she sang. But she was cut off when Soren threw a pillow at her.

“Shut up,” he grumbled with no heat behind his words.

Rory gasped indignantly. “Soren. Aelcrest. You did not just do that.”

Lyria copied her sister. “Soren. Aelcrest. You did not just do that,” she repeated in her little voice.

It should’ve been adorable to Soren but it was terrifying. “I’m sorry, sorry, sorry-” he yelped and ducked to avoid the pillow that slammed into the spot on the wall that had been behind his head.

“Oh, look at you, being all grateful for all that training!” Rory chased Soren around the bedroom chambers, which was massive. Rory had a huge living space, half of which she never even used.

Lyria giggled and threw a pillow at Soren, who deflected it and it went tumbling into Rory. She dodged it, and Soren didn’t know if he was relieved or even more worried for his life. “Really?”

Oh, shoot. I really do have a death wish, don’t I? Although death by Rory wouldn’t be so bad…? Who am I kidding, it’ll be brutal.

Rory took a deep breath and grabbed the scepter, collecting all the pillows in the room into one huge ball. Soren realized what she was going to do a second too late. “Oh, no, no, no-” It crashed into him and he were thrown on the bed, groaning. “You got your revenge.”

“Tenfold.” Rory smirked triumphantly.

*•*•*•*•*•*•*•*•*•*•*•*

Soft breathing. The rustle of blankets. The distant ticking of a clock.

The raindrops tapping at the window where Soren was standing, his eyes unfocused towards it.

As usual, his thoughts drifted to the girl who was sleeping peacefully in the bed not far from him. That girl. He was staring outside, at the beautiful view of green and blue and vibrant colors, damp with nature’s tears. But he wasn’t looking at it. He was preoccupied with the thoughts, desperate and despairing and dangerous thoughts, in his head.

Soren couldn’t deny it any longer, just repeating lies to himself again and again. When will you be honest to yourself? To Rory? She deserves to know. Deserves everything.

But it’d ruin everything. It’d ruin what they’d built for eighteen years, because she’d never feel the same way, never. It’d disrupt everything that was going on with Luxemere, especially with all the new things that had happened.

It’d put Rory in even more danger than she was already in, which was saying something. And Soren would do nothing - nothing - to jeopardize her safety. Even if it killed him to hold it in.

But to just hear her voice say those words would make him the happiest person in the realms.

“Couldn’t sleep, Soren? Of course not. You’ve been staring at that window for the past hour like it holds all the answers to the world’s mysteries. Either that or you’re a mad lunatic who has crossed eyes and plotting to mass murder the whole of Luxemere.”

Soren closed his eyes and couldn’t suppress the smile that stole across his face as he turned. “Dark, Rory.”

She shrugged, sitting up. “What are you doing up, anyway? You haven’t gotten a wink of sleep.”

Thinking about you. Thinking about how I’ll never get to tell you what plagues my mind every second of every day. Daydreaming of what it would be like if I did.

But he had a feeling she wouldn’t exactly welcome that response with open arms. So instead of answering, he deflected.

“Couldn’t sleep anyway. Might as well think about fencing forms. I’m assuming you haven’t been sleeping this entire time anyways?”

Rory scoffed. “Fencing forms? You really are in love with those swords.” Soren had to laugh, raising his eyes to the ceiling incredulously. Rory smiled a little.

This beautiful girl doesn’t know why I’m laughing.

“Try to get some sleep, Rory. Apart from all the undercover stuff, you’re still the Crown Princess. You have to prepare for the Moonlit Masquerade, it’s in a week.” Soren’s voice came out softer than he expected.

Rory gave him a look. “I could say the same for you, Ren. Sleep.”

“I… You’re not budging on this, are you?”

“Nope. I’m not sleeping if you’re not. Shall I prepare a card game?”

Soren groaned but reluctantly trudged towards the bed. “You’re impossible, Rose. An impossible rose.”

Rory grinned in triumph and scooted over to make space. “Why do you even call me that?”

“It’s tradition.” He lay down and pulled over some of the blankets. “Don’t be a hogger like last time.”

Rory’s jaw dropped. “Are you mad? You hogged all the blankets last time! I was left cold!”

Soren snickered. “Well, you pushed me off the bed in return. I think we’re even.”

“You deserved it. And you can’t just say ‘tradition’, why is it tradition?”

“Oh, gee, maybe because Rose has been your nickname since we were kids.”

“Smartass. That’s not what I mean.”

“Fine. Because you remind me of a rose. Beautiful and stubborn and dangerous and soft. Only letting a few people through your thorns. Lucky I’m one of them.”

Silence. “Really?”

“Yeah.” A whisper.

More silence. Enough to make Soren worry he said the wrong thing. Did I screw up again?

But then Rory spoke, a hint of a smile in her voice, “I didn’t know that.” He could hear the lilt in it, soft and wavering, sleep slowly pulling her in.

Soren exhaled in relief. I didn’t mess up. Thank the Gods. “Yeah. And because we were always told about Briar Rose as children.”

“Seriously? That old legend?”

He laughed. “Yep. You’re a princess, so. Made sense back then.”

“And who exactly did you think was the prince, you?” Sleepy. God, she was adorable.

Soren scoffed. “Me? I’m no prince. Or knight.”

Rory frowned through the dark. “You quit your job when you were fourteen, when my mom died, to stay at the palace with me for months. You’re the boy who didn’t care about himself if he could embarrass himself enough to make me crack a smile through my numbness. How could you possibly think you’re not enough?”

He was speechless. She thinks of me like that? But… I’m nothing. Nothing like that.

“Maybe not,” she said quietly, dozing into sleep with Soren by her. “Maybe you aren’t a prince. Or knight.”

Why’d I get my hopes up?

“But you’re my best friend and the best thing I’ll ever have.”

Soren looked over at her but she was asleep.

Then he smiled. “Of course you think that. You, my beautiful, brave, perfect friend.” Beautiful. Brave. Perfect.

Friend.

Sleep started to overtake him as well, and he subconsciously shifted Aurora closer to him, needing the warmth and the happiness that arose in him when he’s near. Then he fell asleep as well, drowning in a cloud of peace.

*•*•*•*•*•*•*•*•*•*•*•*

Lay on the floor was the scepter. The blue gem shone under the moonlight, the rain having stopped. The white shimmered by the reflection of the blue cot with a beige railing.

The scepter glowed, illuminating the three sleeping figures that lay in the room. One in the cot. Two in the bed, wrapped in each other’s arms, souls entwined.

But then the rain started to pour again. Not the light rain like before. No, this time, the rain was an onslaught. Outside, a plant withered because it was too much. Too much.

The sound of the sky’s stormy thunder almost drowned out the voices whispering, whispering a torrent of words, undistinguishable from each other. Help… No, don’t take away… It won’t last… Don’t do this… The choice is yours.

And then it exploded.